December 1st, 2021

We began our meeting with a question, “What are you currently doing?” I asked each attendee. The attendance was small; it usually is in December. There were only nine of us there, but we had 100 percent participation. Dennis has completed a manuscript; it is in the hands of his editor being formatted for publication. Ed is nearing the completion of a nearly ten-year project which hasn’t deterred him from producing many fascinating works in the meantime. Anne’s project is underway, and she’s scheduling interviews to begin after January 1^st. Don says he hasn’t done too much lately. He and his lovely wife are departing on a cruise; he’ll get back to work when he returns. Richard turned over some of his stories to be read on a podcast. He’s received great feedback and a request for more. Tish is engaged in a mid-stream change; she is reworking the mode in which she writes her story. Ernie works daily on the daunting task of editing, rewriting, and preparing his historical novel. He has the herculean task of completing a trilogy about the life and times of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Bruce says he’s tackled the most challenging writing job of his career. He’s beginning to pen his memoir. Rod is engaged in searching for another beginning in the ever-growing list of future works on his computer.

 The discussion was enlightening, gearing us up for the reading session.

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Leading off the reading was Ernie Ovitz. A speech, written for an occasion this time last year, was as relevant as when it was written. The state-of-readiness of our Military and Businesses to meet global challenges is not as capable as it should be. It is reminiscent of the capabilities experienced by our country on December 7^th, 1941. Are we ready to confront China? Who makes the largest percentage of the products used in this county? Is our economy stable? The answers may be a bit frightening.

 

Writing a memoir is tough, especially when the memories aren’t the best. Tish McAuley has been doing that for over a year now. She’s had to face some harsh truths. Her journey has been cathartic, but now she’s ready to face the past. She’s changing her story from a memoir to a novel. Based on her life and the trauma she’s faced in it, the story may help others face similar obstacles in theirs. Good work, Tish.

 

Bruce Haedrich offered us the opening passages of his memoir entitled Goodnight Searchlight. As a youngster of six, he could look out his bedroom window and see the beacon of a nearby airfield. His desire to become a pilot was fostered in that action. Now, nearly seventy years later, after a successful career as a military and airline pilot, he looks back and tells his story. Great beginning.

 

A chance meeting with a retired Major League pitcher battling issues with retiring.  No longer being in the spotlight of fame, he is depressed. His dilemma sparked Don Westerfield to take action. Now, Don writes his story The Day I Think I Made A Difference. A chance meeting at an airport proves pivotal for the retiree as Don remembers him and strikes up a conversation where he reinforces the man’s feeling of importance. He made a difference. Don, you make a difference in all your fellow writers’ lives.

 

Two poems by Richard Cope were both inspiring and heartfelt. With the reading of Scott County, I was choked with emotion as Richard tells of a Christmas funeral for a relative. With the final words, “as I laid my Bonny to rest,” we know the feeling of a loved one lost. In Recycled, a simple Raggedy Ann doll serves to remind us we don’t need technology to bring happiness to the world.

 

Rod DiGruttolo read Pappy and the Bandleader to close out the evening. The story tells of a young Rod, who meets his grandfather’s musical hero and sets up a meeting. The bandleader invited Pappy to join in a jam session alongside several other band members. Pappy’s memory lasted him for the rest of his life.

 

Well, it was the end of the night, a good meeting with lots of insight into what we are doing and some excellent readings.

OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON DECEMBER 15^TH, IT WILL BE OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MEETING. BRING A GOODIE TO SHARE AND ENJOY. 

But most of all; KEEP ON WRITING!